Torrential monsoon rains were causing widespread inundation in south Gujarat on Tuesday, causing widespread flooding and disrupting daily life and claiming five lives in rain-related accidents since Monday. Surat was the worst-hit district, with people’s homes underwater and thousands of people moving to safer locations as officials rushed to respond to the crisis.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) said isolated parts of Surat, Valsad and the Union Territory of Dadra and Nagar Haveli had experienced “extremely heavy rainfall” over the last 24 hours. But it warned that intense rainfall is expected to continue in South Gujarat through July 9, and the weather department is on high alert.
Five Killed, Over 2,100 People Evacuated
Officials said five people have lost their lives in separate rain-related incidents in the last two days.
Two died of electrocution on Tuesday in Kamrej and another one died in Surat. In Surat’s Rander area amid heavy rainfall on Monday, two more people were electrocuted.
The Surat Municipal Corporation Commissioner M. Nagarajan said around “2,100 residents” living in flood-prone areas of various parts of the city were evacuated and moved to safer places as water levels continued to rise.
Public safety authorities have advised people to stay indoors unless necessary, warning of widespread waterlogging, road closures, disruptions to public transport and the risk of flash floods.
Kamrej Records 305 mm Rainfall in 10 Hours
Among the worst affected was Kamrej taluka in Surat district where 305 mm of rainfall occurred between 6 am and 4 pm yesterday.
Surat city received 260 mm in the same period while Palsana received 205 mm.
Heavy rainfall was also reported from other parts of south Gujarat:
- Navsari taluka: 195 mm.
- Jalalpore: 177 mm.
- Bardoli: 174 mm.
- Mahuva: 170 mm.
- Ambika: 148 mm.
Videos posted on social media showed roads turning into rivers, vehicles stuck in deep water and several homes completely inundated as drainage systems struggled to cope with the torrent of water.
Schools Closed Amid Red Alert
Schools were closed in some districts as weather conditions worsened.
Officials ordered schools and colleges in Surat and Navsari shut down, while anganwadis, Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and other educational institutions in Navsari were also closed after an IMD warning.
The weather department has forecast heavy to very heavy rainfall and isolated extremely heavy spells over Surat, Navsari, Dang, Valsad, Tapi, Daman and Dadra and Nagar Haveli through the morning of July 9.
Monsoon Covers Entire Gujarat
The IMD also announced that the southwest monsoon has now reached the rest of Gujarat and is now bringing widespread rainfall to the state.
Disaster response teams and civic authorities are on standby as officials continue rescue, evacuation and dewatering operations in affected areas. Residents in low-lying areas have been advised to monitor official weather updates and avoid venturing into flooded roads or waterlogged areas until conditions improve.
